At the 2023 Dubai Marathon, the management had crazy logistical changes, a new course, movement on hotels and elite athletes. Dera Dida, wife of former Dubai champ, World Champ Tamirat Tola, won last year, and so did her brother in law, Abdisa Tola!
This year, Dera Dida is back to defend her title at the largest and fastest marathon in the Middle East, now going back to its famed course and the Olympic year of 2024.
The Road to Paris begins in Dubai.
DERA DIDA TO DEFEND DUBAI MARATHON CROWN IN 2024
Defending Champion to Lead Women’s Field on January 7
Dubai (UAE): Less than ten months after winning the 2023 Dubai Marathon, Ethiopian star Dera Dida has confirmed she will return to the UAE to defend her Dubai crown on January 7.
Earlier this year, Dida – wife of former Dubai Marathon winner and Marathon World Champion Tamirat Tola – stormed through with two kilometres remaining to take the women’s event in 2h:21:11 at EXPO City Dubai, while her brother-in-law Abdisa Tola made it a unique family double by clinching the men’s title.
But while Abdisa misses out on a Dubai title defence through injury, fellow adidas runner Dera Dida will be back on the start line on January 7 as she bids for a second successive title in the UAE, this time over the fast and flat roads around the iconic Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Road area.
It’s familiar ground for Dida, who competed over the route in both 2018 and 2020, finishing seventh and fifth, respectively. It is the first time since 2020 the event will be back at what has long been seen as its natural “home”, and Dida will start as a firm favourite following one of the most successful years of her running career.
In 2023, she recorded personal bests at both 10,000m and Half Marathon, while seven months after winning in Dubai, the 27-year-old Ethiopian lowered her marathon personal best to 2:19:24 in Berlin and is looking forward to maintaining her upward momentum over the classic distance.
“When I took the lead in Dubai, I was sure I’d win,” said Dida, a two-time Ethiopian National Champion at 5,000 and 10,000m and a two-time World Cross Country Championship silver medallist. “It was a wonderful race, and, of course, it was very emotional when I realised Abdisa had also won.”
Dubai…
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